Clasp for bracelets and the like



Aug. 2i", 1951 A. LEVEQUE 2,565,034

CLASP FOR BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1948 lnvezvboz .AZL z/ -gwe Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 29, 1948, Serial No. 51,693

I In Switzerland September 30, 1947 3 Claims; .(Cl. 24--206) The present invention relates to improvements in clasps for bracelets and the like and has for its object to provide a clasp of this character of simple and economical construction which will provide efficient, strong and easily attachable means for removably securing both ends of a bracelet over the wrist of the wearer.

The annexed drawing shows, by way of .ex-

amples, three forms of construction of a clasp embodying the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first construction of my clasp attached to both ends of a bracelet in close position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line II -II of Fig. 1 showing the clasp in the half-open position.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2 of a second construction of my-clasp.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show in perspective different members of a third construction of my clasp.

In the clasp shown in the Figures 1 and 2, l designates a bracelet, one end I of which is connected by means of a hinge 2 with a curved plate 3 whose extremity opposite to the hinge 2 is formed with a downward edge 3 The other end I of the bracelet is connected by means of a hinge 4 with a box-like link 5 comprising a cover -member 6 hingedly connected by means of a hinge I to a bottom member 8. The cover member 6 comprises a top wall '6 and two side walls 6 adapted to fit over the longitudinal edges of the bottom member 8. The top wall (5 of the cover member is formed on its underside with a downwardly turned lug 9 adapted to be snapped over a projection H] on the bottom member 8 to lock the cover member 6 in closed position. The transverse edge 6 of the top Wall 6 is slightly curved upwardly to facilitate opening of the cover member. A transverse slot II is provided in the top wall 6 of the cover member 5 adjacent to the hinge I. This slot II is wide enough to allow the plate 3 to pass therethrough, whose downturned edge 3* engages behind one of a series of transversal ribs l2 on the inner face of bottom member 8. A shaped thrust transversal bar I3 is pivotally mounted about a cross pin l4 adjacent the slot II and is held by a spring [5 in a position in which it partially closes the slot II. In Fig. 2 the cover member 6 is shown half-open and the thrust bar I3 is ready to cooperate with the downturned edge 3 of plate 3 to prevent the latter from getting out accidentally from the link 5. In order to entirely separate the plate 3 from the link 5, the bar l3 must be turned with the finger in the counter-clockwise direction against the action of the spring IS.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 diifers only from the first one in that the safety device intended to prevent the plate 3 from accidentally getting out of the box-like link 5 when the cover member 6 thereof is open, consists of a shaped thrust transversal bar 23 welded to the hinge members of the cover 6 and arranged approximately parallel to the top wall 6 of this cover so as to form the lower rim of the slot II. In the half-open position of the cover 6 shown in Fig. 3, the thrust bar 23 is ready to cooperate with the downturned edge 3 of the plate 3 topreve'nt the latter from getting out of the-link 5. In order to entirely separate the plate 3 from the link 5, the cover 6 must be brought and held in a position which is near to its closed position. In any different positionwhich the cover 6 may have if becoming accidentally open, the bar 23 will retain the downturned edge 3 of the plate 3, for as long as the bracelet fits over the wrist of the wearer, the plate 3 will remain approximately parallel to the bottom member, 8..

In the construction shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, all of the members constituting the clasp, namely the cover member 36 (Fig. 4) the bottom member 38 (Fig. 5) and the curved plate 33 (Fig. 6) are stamped out from sheet metal. The thrust bar 43 of the cover member 36 is made of a single piece with the side flanges 36 thereof. The bottom member 38 is formed with upturned side flanged 38 which fit in the closed position of the clasp within the side flanges 36 of the cover member 36 and close with a snap therein owing to interengagement of stamped inner projections 36 on the side flanges 36* with punched recesses 38 in the side flanges 38. Also the cross ribs 42 on the inner face of the bottom member 38 are stamped out therefrom. The curved plate 33 is formed with two downturned side ears 33 which are intended to support a pin for the hinge connection of the plate 33 with the bracelet end I. The plate 33 is further formed with two longitudinal ribs 33 for preventing the plate 33 from contacting the top wall of the cover member 36 throughout its entire width. Similar longitudinal ribs 36 are formed for decorative purpose on the top wall of cover member 36.

What I claim is:

1. A clasp for bracelets and the like comprising a plate hingedly connected to one bracelet end, a box-like link hingedly connected to the other bracelet end, said link comprising a bottom member and a cover member hingedly connected to each other at their extremities remote from the hinge connection of the link with the bracelet end, said cover member being formed with a transversal slot adjacent its hinge connection with said bottom member to allow introduction of said plate into said link, interengaging means on said plate for attaching said plate to said bottom member, on said bottom member and interengaging means on said cover member and said bottom member for locking said plate within said link when the link is in closed position, and a thrust transversal bar hingedly mounted on the axis of said hinge connection of the bottom and cover members and extending parallelly to said connection to co-act with said cover member and said plate to permit said plate to pass through said slot in unlocked position of said link only in a predetermined position of said bar.

2. A clasp for bracelets and the like comprising a plate hingedly connected to one bracelet end, a box-like link hingedly connected to, the, other bracelet end, said link comprising a bottom member and a cover member hingedly connected to each other at their extremities remote from the hinge connection of the link with the bracelet end, said cover member being formed with a transversal slot adjacent its hinge connection withsaid bottom member to allow introduction of 531d plate into said link, interengaging means on said plate and on said bottom member for attaching said plate to said bottom member, interengaging means on said cover member and said bottom member for lockin said plate within said link when the link is in closed position, and a thrust transversal bar hingedly mounted on the axis of said hinge connection of the bottom and cover members and extending parallelly to said connection to co-act with said cover memher and said plate, said transversal bar being turnable with respect to the cover member, a spring tending to urge saidbar into a position in which it partially closes the transversal slot, whereby said plate is allowed to pass through said slot in unlocked position of said link only in a predetermined pos i n of said bar.-

3. A clasp for bracelets and the like comprising a plate hingedly connected to one bracelet end, a box-like link hingedly connected to the other bracelet end, said link comprising a bottom member and a cover member hingedly connected to each other at their extremities remote from the hinge connection of the link with the bracelet end, said cover member being formed with a transversal slot adjacent its hinge connection with said bottom member to allow introduction of said plate into said link, interengaging means on said plate and on said bottom member for attaching said plate to said bottom member, interengaging means on said cover member and said bottom member for locking said plate within said link when the link is in closed position, and a thrust transversal bar, rigid with said cover member and adjacent to said transversal slot to co-act with said cover member and said plate, extending parallelly to said hinge connection of the bottom and cover members, whereby said plate is allowed to pass through said slot in unlocked position of said link only in a predetermined position of said bar.

ALBERT LEVE UE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lnm s July 31, 1888 Number 

